‘Decidedly Improper’: Federal Judge Shreds Trump’s ‘Enervating’ 85-Page Lawsuit Against New York Times

A federal judge in Florida has delivered a stunning and blistering rebuke to former President Donald Trump's legal team, throwing out their high-profile defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The dismissal came not on the merits of the case, but on the grounds that the legal filing itself was an unwieldy and "impermissible" document that blatantly ignored fundamental court procedures.

In a scathing ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Steven Merryday did not mince words, labeling the sprawling 85-page complaint as "decidedly improper and impermissible." He pointedly noted that the document was a flagrant violation of Rule 8 of the federal rules of civil procedure, a core principle which requires that legal allegations be presented in a "simple, concise and direct" manner. The judge's decision served as a sharp lesson in legal fundamentals for the former president's attorneys.

Judge Merryday, an appointee of former President George H.W. Bush, was particularly critical of the complaint’s "abundant, florid, and enervating detail." He suggested the filing read less like a serious legal document and more like a political manifesto or a biographical sketch. Merryday highlighted the inclusion of numerous superfluous references that had little to do with the core defamation claim, citing mentions of Trump's reality TV show "The Apprentice," his vast real estate holdings, various media appearances, and a detailed account of what the president calls the "Russia Collusion Hoax."

The judge emphasized the sheer absurdity of the document's length, pointing out that for a relatively straightforward two-count complaint, the first 79 pages were almost entirely unnecessary. The lawsuit, which targets The New York Times and four of its reporters, alleges defamation related to the outlet's extensive reporting.

However, the legal battle may not be over. While the dismissal is a significant procedural setback and a clear embarrassment for Trump's legal team, the door has not been completely slammed shut. Judge Merryday has granted the president's lawyers a one-month grace period to go back to the drawing board. They have been given a chance to file a shorter, amended version of the complaint that actually complies with the court's rules. The onus is now on them to distill their 85-page narrative into a focused legal argument that a federal court will deem worthy of consideration.